Dunk Island - Golf Course

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As a National Park within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Dunk Island's golf course had to meet stringent environmental guidelines as well as please those keen to Eagle a par 5 with a chip in from the sand bunker.

The course layout and design was created by Scott Dowdle, who operates and maintains Queensland's leading international championship course, Laguna Quays. Making clever use of Dunk Island's natural topography, the golf course was created without major earthworks or extensive planting of imported grasses.

The course uses the Island's natural water features and the surrounding rainforest to great effect. Whilst the lush, international-standard greens have been cultivated using grass imported from Laguna Quays, the fairways and tees use local grasses native to the Island, the specially selected varieties allowing for excellent cover and negating the need for herbicides or pesticides.

Boardwalks and other design elements add interest to the course and whilst there are more than a few challenges, the designers also reward golfers with spectacular Coral Sea and Island views. But a bad shot can't be justified by claiming the views were a distraction.

Some Facts about Dunk Island Golf Course

• The Dunk Island Golf Course is situated on freehold land surrounded by both National and Marine Parks. As such the Course has been constructed and is being maintained in the most environmentally sensitive manner to ensure the protection of surrounding ecosystems.
• In what must be close to a world first, the Course construction involved no major earthworks and the layout was designed around our trees (making the course quite demanding). The natural drainage has not been disturbed and all water is sourced on demand from a spring fed dam. Grasses native to Dunk Island are used on the tees and fairways. Couch 328, imported from Laguna Quays, is the only foreign grass and is used only on the greens.
• In the ongoing maintenance of the course and due to the use of native grasses, no pesticides or herbicides are used. Minimal fertilisation occurs during our dry season using a low dose, slow release fertiliser.
• For the non golfer, the walk around the course shows some of the stunning aspects and views of the Island.